Keep Moving Forward

According to the Greek philosopher Aristotle, “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” Strangely enough, all the struggles, challenges, and problems that we face are here to help us rather than break us down. Don’t believe me? Just take a look at some of the most successful people on the planet and what they were forced to overcome.

Take Thomas Edison for example. While attempting to create the light bulb, he was faced with failure a thousand times. After the hundredth time, most people would have given up but not Edison. Day and night he worked until finally the worlds first electric light bulb was created.

His response to previous failures, “I have not failed, I’ve just found 1,000 ways that it won’t work.” Now, this is one man that against all odds focused on finding a way to overcome and in doing gave light to the world.

Both our failed and successful attempts are what shapes us in the future. Furthermore, the meaning we have for every failure or success directly affects the outcome we have. When the Wright brothers attempted to fly a plane everyone called them insane. Instead of giving up they persisted to make their dream a reality. After every failed design, rather than focus on what they did wrong, they asked themselves what they could do better. Slowly but surely they developed the Wright Flyer I which was a major success.

Today, eight million people, every day, fly all around the world thanks to the perseverance of these two brothers.

No matter where you were then or where you are now, just remember that you have the choice to change where you will go. Just like eighteenth-century poet William Ernest Henley once said,”I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” Don’t allow circumstances or other people to define the life you live; YOU create your own.